hermit crabs

numisticman · 03-03-2007, 09:55 PM

Hello everybody,
I love this place! I received alot of good advice from members!! THANK YOU!
here is my next set of questions. First I just bought 12 hermit crabs for my 40 gallon tank. Is that too many? and these crabs do out grow there shell right? so I need to put in empty shells? is this correct?

Thank you

numisticman · 03-03-2007, 10:33 PM

oh PS what other kind of cleaning crew members would you suggest? I am trying to establish a reef/coral and fish set up.
Thanx

dobejazz · 03-03-2007, 10:57 PM

Hermits do like to switch shells, empty ones are great to have around
I have Astrea snails and Narcissus snails also as my clean up crew

numisticman · 03-03-2007, 10:58 PM

thank you Kelli

JY13131 · 03-03-2007, 11:01 PM

Yeah, the funniest is when a hermit picks up a shell that is way too big for him!!!

know-it-all · 03-03-2007, 11:01 PM

IMO,
yes 12 will be enough
no they should not be the only
Nassarius and astrea are good as well
I really like ceriths snails as well

Gilraen Took · 03-04-2007, 02:05 AM

I've got nerites, ceriths and nassarius in my 20. The nerites supposedly stay a bit smaller, so maybe a bit larger species instead of those for a bigger tank, or just a few more of them. I also like my hermits, but Definately keep shells for them so they don't snatch them from your snails.

Geoff · 03-04-2007, 08:48 AM

i prefer snails over hermits. hermits tend to go on rampages when thier homes get a touch small.

i have a mix of Ceriths and Trochus. mainly Trochus. i have a very healthy breeding population in the tank right now.

G~

theplatypus · 03-04-2007, 08:57 AM

The poor hermit crab gets such a bad rap around here.